Florida Tech Panthers

Eligibility for Practice and Competition
In order to be eligible for practice in Florida Tech Athletics you must: 

• Be registered for a full-time program of study towards a bachelor's or master's degree at Florida Tech;
• Complete all NCAA and Athletics Department Eligibility Paperwork; and
• Complete all Athletics Department Medical Clearance Procedures.

In order to be eligible for competition in Florida Tech Athletics you must: 

• Be registered in a minimum of 12 credit hours at all times (9 credits for graduate students); 
• Meet all academic eligibility requirements of the NCAA, Florida Tech, and athletic conference (if applicable); 
• Complete all NCAA and Athletics Department Eligibility Paperwork; and
• Complete all Athletics Department Medical Clearance Procedures.

Agents & Amateurism
A student-athlete must be an amateur in order to compete in intercollegiate athletics. A student-athlete will lose his/her eligibility for intercollegiate competition if he/she: 

• Uses his/her athletics skills (directly or indirectly) for pay in any form in their sport; 
• Accepts a promise of pay (even if the pay will be after graduation or completion of their eligibility); 
• Signs a contract or commitment to play professional sports;
• Receives (directly or indirectly) a salary, reimbursement of expenses or any other form of financial assistance from a professional sports organization; 
• Competes on any professional athletics team even if no pay or remuneration for expenses is received (except for tennis and golf); 
• Enters into a professional draft; 
• Enters into an agreement (written, oral, handshake) with an agent for securing initial or continuing enrollment at a particular institution. 

An agent or talent scout is any individual other than your parents or legal guardians that markets your athletic ability for the purpose of professional competition. If you or any of your family members are approached by an agent or talent scout regarding your ability for professional athletics, you must inform your coach and the Compliance Office immediately.  Failure to do so could result in a loss of eligibility for intercollegiate athletics and possible forfeiture of games.

If you wish to pursue your options for a professional athletic career, you must contact the Compliance Office to discuss such options.

Awards & Extra Benefits
A student-athlete shall not receive any extra award or benefit that is not expressly permitted by the NCAA. Receipt of such an award or benefit results in a student-athlete being ineligible for competition. An extra benefit is any special arrangement made by a Florida Tech employee or booster to provide a student-athlete, their friends or relatives a benefit that is not permitted by the NCAA. If the benefit is available to all Florida Tech students, their friends, relatives, or to a particular group (international students, biology majors) then the benefit is not considered to be an extra benefit.

Permissible Benefits:

• Complimentary Admissions (4 admissions) to home/away event in your sport
• Academic Support Services Tutoring Use of computers, copy machines, internet and fax machines (for academic work only)
• Athletics medical insurance
• Drug rehabilitation expenses
• Counseling expenses related to treatment of eating disorders
• Medical Examinations
• Housing & Meals related to athletics participation
• Transportation related to competition

Note: Although this list is permissible by the NCAA, the Athletics Department will review on a case-by-case basis awarding those benefits not currently available to all Florida Tech student-athletes, as necessary.

Impermissible Benefits 

• Discounts & Credits 
• Free or reduced cost services 
• Telephones & Credit Cards 
• A loan or gift of money 
• A guarantee of bond 
• An automobile or use of an automobile 
• Signing or cosigning a loan 
• Transportation (other than for competition or medical expenses) 

This list includes only examples of benefits that a student-athlete may or may not receive. Remember, any benefit received from a Florida Tech employee or booster that is not available to all students or specific groups or is being given to a student-athlete based on their participation in athletics is considered an extra benefit. If a student-athlete is presented with an extra benefit, he/she must inform their head coach and the Compliance Office immediately. Failure to do so could result in a loss of eligibility, forfeiture of games and/or suspension from the athletics program.

Outside Competition 
Outside competition is considered any athletics competition against any other athletics team (including an alumni team) that does not represent the intercollegiate athletics program for Florida Tech. 

Any scholar-athlete who participates in outside competition during the championship segment of their sport, becomes ineligible and may not participate in intercollegiate competition until the NCAA has restored the scholar-athlete's eligibility. For sports other than basketball, a student-athlete may participate in outside competitions during an official vacation period (winter break) outside of the sports-declared playing season.